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Chip shortage to usher in transformative design-procurement-supply chain partnerships
By
Peggy Carrieres
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May 6, 2022
The electronics engineering world as we know it will be fundamentally changed by the ongoing chip shortage as stronger partnerships will be formed with procurement and supply chain experts. What we’re experiencing now is unlike anything before.
Are consumer MSLA resin 3D printers good for prototyping enclosures?
By
Cameron Coward
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May 3, 2022
Because MSLA printers are now at price points competitive with budget FFF printers, we wanted to find out if they’re suitable for 3D printing for prototype enclosures. This article examines the possibilities and challenges.
LED innovation lights the way for next-generation farming
By
Arvidas Jarasius
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May 3, 2022
Innovation in horticulture LED lighting is turning the local farm-to-fork future of agriculture on its head.
Prevent facial recognition spoofing with stereo vision
By
Cameron Coward
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May 2, 2022
Without any additional protection, image sensor-based facial recognition is easy to spoof with a printed photo. We explore hardware options to prevent this spoofing, including Avnet’s own dual-camera mezzanine for Ultra96-V2 development boards.
How to use structured light and image sensors for range detection and identification
By
Philip Ling
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April 25, 2022
Today’s most popular 3D imaging technologies are Time of Flight (ToF), stereo vision and structured light. This article overviews the basic operating principles and the relative strengths, weaknesses and trade-offs associated with each option.
What to consider when choosing a connector (interconnect solution)
By
Jamie Pederson
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April 21, 2022
Selecting interconnect products for your project is a crucial step in the design process and there are several things to keep in mind when making those decisions. In this article we’ll discuss the most common considerations and how interconnect ma
What is polarization, keying and color coding for interconnect?
By
Jamie Pederson
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April 10, 2022
Establishing a properly aligned connection quickly is key in any assembly or installation process. Polarization, keying and color coding are primary means to ensuring connections are made quickly and safely. In this article we’ll discuss each of
The double edge of standing waves
By
Philip Ling
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April 1, 2022
A standing wave occurs when the reflected signal is in phase with the source. When it happens in a transmission line, it is normally unwanted because it results in emitted radiation. However, it is exactly that radiation that maximizes the signal’s streng...
Understanding the impact of radar and lidar on autonomous technologies
March 31, 2022
Many component makers are betting heavily on radar and lidar systems enjoying a golden period of growth in the next few years. Vision systems and the processors that go in them present an exciting opportunity, too.
Are microLEDs the next big (small) thing?
By
Philip Ling
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March 31, 2022
MicroLED is an exciting display technology, one that has attracted billions of R&D dollars in recent years. The technology is not ready for mass adoption yet, as the industry has to solve many challenges.
Smarter lighting makes for healthier people
March 23, 2022
Lighting can have an important effect on our well-being and effectiveness. In fact, lighting matters so much that UNESCO designated May 16 as the annual International Day of Light to recognize its role in healthy living.
Behind the Datasheet: Vision systems
By
Philip Ling
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March 22, 2022
Embedded vision is the new must-have feature. Size, resolution and performance are all important, but what else do engineers need to consider after finding the right image sensor for their application? Take a closer look behind the datasheet.
Putting the smarts into building automation
March 21, 2022
Smart building automation can augment the capabilities of today’s building management systems and create new data flows that reveal insights about how a building is functioning and used. It can also enable new revenue streams for building managers.
Can you design your way out of a chip shortage?
By
Philip Ling
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March 21, 2022
Several workarounds exist when integrated devices go end-of-life. One workaround is to emulate the part using a programmable device such as a microcontroller, CPLD or FPGA. Is this still an option during a chip shortage?
Workarounds for the current chip shortage
By
Philip Ling
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March 17, 2022
Every vertical market is feeling the impact of the chip shortage. How we deal with it now may leave a legacy. Design engineers are adept at visualizing the requirement and developing a solution, but OEMs need to look at the bigger picture.
How streaming HD video from space enables future missions
By
Philip Ling
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March 2, 2022
As the recent James Webb Space Telescope launch demonstrated, there is no doubt that streaming HD video from space is going to be hugely popular with the public and even more important for the engineers responsible for future missions.
Over-the-air broadcasting returns with perks
February 24, 2022
As households replace cable with streaming services, can OTA TV still compete? Many say yes. Although it operates at the same frequencies as existing channels and access remains free, the true benefits lie in NextGen TV’s hybrid architecture.
The interdependence of safety and security in autonomous driving
February 24, 2022
The quest for increased road safety is an important factor in the development of higher levels of driving automation. As in any industry, suitable standards help OEMs validate their work in the eyes of regulators and the marketplace.
Technologies for drones, robots and autonomous vehicles
February 17, 2022
When we talk about autonomous applications, devices such as drones, robots and driverless vehicles come to mind. What they all have in common is the ability to gather information on their surroundings, process this data, interpret it and act on it.
Vision systems: Processing at the edge, in the cloud, or both?
February 17, 2022
Computer vision perfectly exemplifies the conundrum developers face when comparing processing data in the cloud or at the edge. That is, should the data generated by the camera be processed locally, in the cloud or both?
A comparison of vision sensing technologies in autonomous systems
By
Philip Ling
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February 15, 2022
Electronic sensors provide autonomous systems with essential information. The type of sensor used determines how this information is captured and how useful it is. This data-driven approach brings with it some tough design decisions.
The next frontier for IoT is outer space
February 15, 2022
IoT is now in space thanks to a burgeoning industry including traditional providers such as Viasat-Inmarsat and HughesNet to Starlink and a variety of other new players. It’s the latest addition to the already unwieldy number of choices.
How electronic sensors mirror nature
February 15, 2022
Recent research puts sensors at the top of the list of technologies of interest to engineers. Find out how the latest electronic devices replicate some of the most amazing sensory capabilities found in nature.
Six cool new autonomous technologies
By
Cameron Coward
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January 31, 2022
From planes, trains, and automobiles to farm equipment and Martian rovers, engineers are extending the capabilities of autonomous technologies to achieve simple productivity improvements and a better understanding of big issues like global warming.
Bolstering Market Differentiation with Strategic Supply Chain Strategies
By
David Paulson
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January 25, 2022
The design and execution of a product’s supply chain can be the critical catalyst for successfully setting new standards for performance, price, customer experience, market penetration and revenue generation - or it can riddle it with cost overruns
Can edge controllers bring balance to the Industrial IoT?
By
Philip Ling
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January 19, 2022
Putting more real-time intelligence at the heart of industrial automation is creating a new breed of control technology. Connectivity and control must go hand in hand in the Industrial IoT, but it requires the best of both worlds.
What does single pair Ethernet bring to the IIoT?
By
Philip Ling
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January 19, 2022
Single pair Ethernet, or SPE, can legitimately be described as a “disruptive technology.” Avnet spoke with George Zimmerman, who chaired the IEEE 802.3cg 10 Mb/s Single Pair Ethernet Task Force, to find out why.
How no-code design could accelerate Industrial IoT development
By
Philip Ling
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January 14, 2022
Developing large numbers of new and diverse devices for an Industrial IoT solution can challenge your engineering resources. Using a no-code approach to development can reduce the size and complexity of that challenge.
The Industrial IoT is driving economic growth
January 14, 2022
With billions of dollars at stake, Industrial IoT isn’t just about financials. Safety, scalability and flexibility are part of digital transformation. In industrial sectors this has significant implications, but is no longer unchartered territory.
Time-of-flight cameras make patient monitoring secure and private
January 14, 2022
A growing need exists for alternative solutions to patient monitoring applications in healthcare facilities. Time-of-flight cameras enable sensors to read position data of scenes within the field of view, but without identifying patient information.